It's such a busy time for gardeners, at home and in the community. And with such beautiful weather lately it's enough to make any gnome want to play hooky (just kidding boss).

But before getting into all the local events, I want to make a pitch for the backyard wildlife habitat program sponsored by the National Wildlife Federation. With the BP oil spill filling up the gulf and feeling hopeless about the future of the wildlife there, it seemed appropriate to do something to help the planet, even if it's just in our own backyards.

Spring in Crystal Eskola's gardens is a sight to behold. You are hard pressed not to find amazing feasts of colors and blooms wherever you look this season, but to highlight the season of new growth and blooms, Crystal's is one of the best places to be.

For full disclosure sake, I had to visit with Crystal nearly a month ago because of schedules and gardening duties we had over the past few weeks. Besides, I wouldn't have been able to get the up-close inspection or photographs in my current, hobbling state.

If you've been before, you know how fabulous it is. If you haven't and you're crazy enough about gardening to be reading this, you really must check it out.

The main events are at the historic Catholic church on Greene Street. Inside you will find the most amazing floral displays by some of the area's most talented professionals, and there are great vendors who will set up booths.

While his wife toiled long hours and weekends in medical school, Brett Yardley needed something to keep him busy, too. He decided to create his first garden ever, a Japanese tea garden.

Their North Augusta home held the classical Southern spring charmers _ azaleas and dogwoods, which are also staple plants in Japan. Yardley thought the Japanese tea garden would be a good fit. He didn't realize at the start, however, how much the project would grow. It took three years to get to the point where he finally thinks he is finish.

OK, it's not the first of the month but if you're like some of us who are still working on March chores, you might appreciate a late list of chores for April.

In fairness, there were a lot of chores for March so don't feel bad if you're still working on those. I am. But before too much more of April slips by, here's the list. As usual, thanks go to Sid Mullis of the Richmond County Cooperative Extension Office who wrote the best guide for us, "Gardening Calendar," and Walter Reeves and Erica Glasener who wrote "Month-By-Month Gardening in Georgia."

My fellow Master Gardener classmate of 2009, Robert Rogers, invited me over to see his camellias last weekend and OMG, you should have been there.

If you're not sure what camellias are, you probably have noticed them around town recently. The camellias are blooming now and since not many other plants are, they stand out like the debutantes they are.

It's coming, can't you feel it? Spring officially begins a week from Saturday (March 20) but with the tulip trees ready to pop and the cherry trees and daffodils blooming, it starting to feel like spring.

And, of course, that means chores. Lots of chores. For March, here's a list of things to get done this month.

As someone once told me, when the Legislature is in session there ain't a man, woman or child safe in the state of Georgia. After last week's announcement of the proposed budget cuts, it seems especially true.